Controlling apparatus for wings, fins, or the like.



H. HASSENBAGH.

GONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR WINGS, PINS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLIOATLON FILED NOV. 18, 1911.

Patnted Nov. 3, 191 1 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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NORRIS PETERS C0 F'HOT LITHOW WASHING/ON, D C

H. HASSENBAGH. CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR WINGS, PINS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION IILBD NOV. 18, 1911. 1,1 1 ,273, Patented Nov. 3, 1914Wii'nesses: in mm 807':

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H. HASSBNBAGH. CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR WINGS, PINS, OR THE LIKE.APPLICATION FILED NOV.18, 1011.

1,1 16,273. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

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Z'Zmmw W T Y THE NORRIS PETERS C0 PHOTU-LITHO, WASHINGTON. D. 4

H. HASSBNBACH.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR WINGS, PINS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.18, 1011.

1, 1 1 6,273. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHUTO-LITHQ. WASHING/ON. L

H. HASSENBACH.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR. WINGS, PINS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 18, 1911.

1,116,273. Patented N0v.3, 1914.

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1,116,273. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

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THE NORRIS PETERS C0., PHO7O LITHOH WAhH/NG ION, D. c

., UNITED srrargrpgggnnr OFFICE.

HERMANN H.ASSENBACH, 0F DANZIG-LANG-IFUHR, GERMANY.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR WINGS. FIN S, OR THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMANN HASSEN- men,engineer, subject of Prussia, Germany, residing at f Birkenallee,Danzig-Langfuhr, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements inControlling Apparatus for WVings, Fins, or the like, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to apparatus for operating the wings ofaeroplanes or aerial craft, fins for submarine and other vessels or thelike, which apparatus is of the kind adapted to cause these propulsivedevices to perform such movements as are peculiar to the wings of a birdor the fins of a fish. It is known to provide wings which not only havea flapping or beating motion, but which have also a feathering motioninorder to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the beating orflapping motion, and to operate same by means of cranks, eccentrics andlevers.

According to this invention, the mechanism for operating the wingscomprises a crank arm secured to the inner end of the wing arm orstem,'and while one end of the crank arm is moved to and fro along anunclosed path or line which may be either straight or curved the otherend is caused to move around a closed curve which may be a circle,ellipse, an oval or amore complex curve as will appear. This constitutesthe essential feature of theinvention, a constructional example of whichis shown in the drawings as applied to a flying machine.

Each of the wings is movably mounted in a sort of Cardan jointcomprising fixed yoke parts. The inner ends of the arms of the wings arealso connected by a Cardan joint with the crank arms aforesaid, which,in their turn, receive their complex motions from a linkage, a featureof which is that it can be adjusted and locked, so that the extent ofmovement of the wings can be regulated without the engine having to bestopped. This linkage mav comprise a coni necting rod which is rigidlyconnected to a shaft common to the crank arms and is pivotally suspendedor connected at the center from or to the framework. The connecting arod is attached by its free end to the crank pin of a crank disk whichis ofsueh a nature that the axis of the crank pin can be shifted intothe axis of the driving shaft of the crank disk, so that the wings, atany time,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 18, 1911.

curved line which is an arc of a circle.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Serial No. 660,974. a

can even be brought to rest without having to interrupt the working ofthe engine.

A further feature is the provision of mechanism for varying theeffective length of the crank arms for the purpose of varying theamplitude of the twist or warp of the wings giving the so-calledfeathering effect, such variation also being possible during flight.

Lastly, there is provided a mechanism for varying the effectivedirection of the wings during the operation thereof, and this mechanismmay advantageously be placed under the control of a pendulumdevice whichwould act as a safety control for such mechanism.

In order to enable the invention to be understood, reference is made tothe drawings in which Figure l is a diagram illustrating the principleunderlying the mechanism, the arrangement being one in which one end ofthe crank arm moves up and down over an arc and the other end moves in aclosed curved path somewhat like a bent ellipse.

Fig. l is a simplified diagram of an arrangement according to which oneend of the crank arm moves to and fro in a straight line while the otherend moves in a circle. Fig. 1 shows one end moving to and fro over anarc and the other end moving in a circle. Fig. 2 is a plan view of aflying ma chine equipped with this improved mechanism on the principleillustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows part of the flying machine in frontelevation on a larger scale. Fig. l is a plan view of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa transverse section on the line A-B of Fig. 3, and Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9are views of details of a controlling mechanism for varying theamplitude of the beat of the wings. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of amodified construction of controlling mechanism illustrating thearrangement shown in Fi 1".

Referring first to the diagram Fig. 1, it will be seen that the free endS of the dotted lever 11, which swings about a fixed pivot,

.merely moves up and down, from the upper end tothe lower end and viceversa of a The free end 9 of the rod 32, which rod swings on the link 33while being reciprocated by the revolving crank pin 31, moves in aclosed curvilinear path which, in this particular instance, resembl s anellipse with the curve flattened on one side. Now supposing that the twoends 8 and 9 are connected together by what may be termed a crank armrepresented by the dotted line 80 and supposing that a wing or plane abe connected perpendicularly with the crank arm 80, it will be readilyunderstood that, if clockwise motion be given to the crank pin 31, theends 8 and 9 will begin to rise each in its respective path. As the twopaths at first diverge upwardly, however, the tilt of the plane l isincreased, owing to the crank arm having to turn slightly in maintainingthe con nection between 8 and 9. Afterwardthe 7 paths slightly convergeand the tilt is rethe other side of the path of the point 8,

which latter commences its return along such path. it is clear thereforethat the plane 1 will. now be oppositely tilted to a degree which willnot ary very much during.

the downstroke. Thus the essence of the invention will now be understoodand it will be seen that the path which is traversed in both directionsby the point 8 may either be a straight line or a curvilinear path,while the closed curve around which the point 9 moves may be circular,elliptical, oval, or any other desired regular or irregular curvilinearfig-v ure, for as long as one end ofthe crank arm 80 merely goes to andfro on its path res versing its motion at each end whereas thev otherend of the crank arm goes around its path and always moves along thatpath in the same direction, the conditions of the present invention aresatisfied. For e2;- ample, and as shown in Fig. 1, if the point I 3reciprocates up and down the guideway indicated by parallel lines, whilethe point 9 performs a circular motion, the crank arm 37 while risingand falling will also have the different angular positions seen in thisfigure and marked 9 In this figure, in order to simplify matters, thepoints 9 and 31, Fig. 1, are merged into one instead ofbeing connectedbya rod, the link 33 be ing dispensed with as it is not necessary when a.plain circular motion is employed. Fig; 1 shows the effect when thepoint 8 reciprocates to and fro along an are, as in Fig. 1, but thepoint 9 travels in a circle as in Fig. 1. Referring again to Fig. 1, itwill be seen that if the crank arm could be lengthened any moment say tothe length represented by 81, the degree of tilt during any cycle ofmovements would be considerabl different from what 1 it was with theshorter arm. ,y V

The practical application of this mechanism to a flying machine will nowbe readily understood from the following-description: On both sides ofthe framework 1 of the flying machine are arranged fixed yokes 2 1nwhich Cardan-like rings 3 are pivotally mounted. The stems or arms ofthe wings lare supported by vertical pivots in these rings, and, theinner ends of the arms or stems of the wings are engaged by verticalpivots in the rings 5 of the inner Gardan joint, the yokes 6 of whichare connected to the pins 8 of toggle arrangements here inafterdescribed. Each pin 8 is connected with the pin 9 by toggle links 10,the middle pivots of which are provided with nuts to enable screws 16 tobe used for expanding or contracting the toggle arrangements for thepurpose of increasing or decreasing the effective distances between thepins 8 and the pin 9, and thereby increasing or decreas explained inreference to Fig. 1. Sleeves 7 11,.which are pivotally connected tolevers )12 adapted to turn in the framework 1 and to be locked.

On the levers 12 are mounted spindles 13, which are flexibly oruniversally jointed by the shaft parts 1%, 15 connected together byCardan joints with the screws 16. The shafts 1 1-, 15 and Cardan jointsQmay be replaced by flexible shafts or the like. The crankarms aforesaidareconstivtuted by guide members 37 which are fixed on respective pins 8and which receive and gLllClO- the respective ends of the. pins 9.

.When either of the spindles 13 is turned by its hand wheel and thecorresponding. screw 116 expands or contracts its toggle, thecorresponding pin 8 will be drawn up toward or lowered fromthe pin 9;the guide 37 moving over the latter as will be readily understood. 1

The levers 12 are held in position by toothed sectors17 engagingtheteeth of spring controlled levers 18 in theusual way; the locking toothon. alever 18 having to be raised from the teeth of the sector beforethe lever can be moved in relation to the sector. WVhile .each of thelevers turns independently on its pivot the two sectors 17 are connectedtogether and turn about a common pivot, being fixedly connected to alever 19 on the other side of the pivot, to

which lever is connected the short arm of a double armed pendulum 2O.hung in the framework 1. heavily, weightedand may for this purpose beconstituted by the carriage. or framing for the reception of the driverof the flying machine and the motor for propelling it, the power beingtransmitted from the motor by suitable power transmitting devices whenthe motor is in operation, these parts always continue to rotate.Through this This pendulum 20 must be turn on the pins 8 and are carriedby rods 7 which. canbe connected to the driving memhollow shaft ispassed a second hollow shaft 25, on which, in front of the crank disk24, is mounted a gear wheel 26, and which is acted upon at its other endby a brake actuated by levers 27. Mounted upon the crank disk 24 so asto rotate eccentrically 1 gear wheel 26.

thereon is a disk 28; the disk 28 being carried by the pin 29 which isrotatably mounted in the crank disk 2-11: and has fixed on it a gearwheel 30, which meshes with the When the brake is applied to the shaft25 the crank disk 24; continues to rotate and carries around the crankdisk 28 eccentrically mounted thereon, and, as the wheel 30 will be thenrolled around a fixed gear-wheel 26, the disk 28 will be revolved aroundits own axis so that a crank pin 31 on the disk 28 is moved nearer to orfarther from the axis of the crank disk 2-1. The crank pin 31 on thedisk 28 eventually shifts into the central axis of the crankdisk 24 and,if the brake be taken off at this instant, any further rotation of thecrank disk 28 on its pin 29 is rendered impossible. Thus the crank pin31 will be left in a position in which it has no drivingmotion atall asits effective radius has been wiped out.

By means of this shifting of the crank pin 31, which through theconnecting rod 32 drives the pin 9 in the manner seen in Fig. 1 owing tothe connecting rod 33 being pivotally suspended from or connected withthe framework 1 by the link 33, the sweep of the wings is regulated, orthe wings are brought to rest immediately the axis of the crank pin 31coincides with the axis of the crank disk 24L.

The crank disk 28 is normally held by a locking device adapted to bethrown out of operation when it is desired to adjust the position of thepin 31. In the present constructional example, the locking device isconstituted by a spring controlled axially movable shaft 34: which ispassed through the hollow shaft 25 and extends to the crank disk 28, theend of the shaft 34 entering any one of a series of holes formed in thedisk 28 as seen in Figs. 6 and 9. By pulling a lever 36 toward the brakehandles 27, a bell crank 35 is rocked and striking a collar on the shaft34L retracts the latter from engagement with the disk 28. The lever 36is preferably arranged in conjunction with the brake 27 in order toenable both mechanisms to be operated at one point and simultaneously.The end of the spring controlled shaft 341, which enters the holes orrecesses in the disk 28, may conveniently be tapered, whereby the shafteasily enters one of the recesses in the crank disk 26 1 immediately thedisengaging mechanism 36 at the front and otherwise made elastic so asto resemble in this respect the wings of birds. In like manner, theunderside of the wings may also be roughened or covered,

with scales to imitate real wings.

The action of the mechanism is as follows :The engine being set inmotion, the gears 22, 23 revolve the crank disk 24 and the adjustablecrank pin 31 is carried around theaxis of the disk 24 and reciproeatesthe rod 32. Owing to the linkage described with reference to Fig. l, thepins 8 and 9, which are at a suitable distance apart determined by theadjustment of the screw 16, have the movement imparted to them describedwith reference to Fig. 1, and the arms 37 have the movements which canbe ascertained by an inspection of the dotted arms 80 or 81 in Fig. 1.The result is that the pins 8, to which the arms 37 are fixed, have anup and downmovement and also an oscillatory movement about their ownaxes, and, as the pins 8 are connected to respective wing stems throughthe Cardan joints 5, 6, it follows that such stems will be moved up anddown over an arc and will also be subjected to a certain amount ofturning which will produce a twist or turning of the wings as theyperform their flapping or beating movements. The rings 3 would, inpractice, be adapted for permitting this turning or twisting motion totake place.

Adjusting the degree of eccentricity of the pin 31 varies the amplitudeof the beat of the wings, and adjusting the distance be tween the pins 8and 9 varies the angle of twist. There is a third adjustment possible,however, for by shifting the levers 12 in one direction or the otherabout their pivots, the positions of the pins 8 relatively to the pin 9are shifted, and, as will be readily understood by an inspection of Fig.1, this results inwhat may be termed the tilt of the wings being varied.

Assuming that the apparatus is to rise, the independently adjustablelevers 12 are shifted toward the front which results in a tilting of thewings, so that the under surfaces thereof are turned toward the front.

If the twist of the wings is to be greater or less, the distance betweenthe pins 8, 9 must be decreasedor increased by adjusting the links 10 bymeans of the screws 16 and rods 13, 1% and 15 as described.

According to the amplitude desired for the sweep of the wings at, thecrank pin 31 must be shifted a greater or lesser distance from thecentral axis of the crank disk 21, and this can be accomplished whilethe engine is working and the wings are moving, the brake 27 beingthrown into operation and the catch 34, 35, 36 out of operation until,by the turning of the crank disk 28 about its own axis, due to the gearwheel 30 rolling around the gear wheel 26 of the hollow shaft 25, thecrank pin 31 has reached the distance from the central. aXis of thecrank disk 24 which is necessary for the desired amplitude of the sweepof the wings. 1f the axis of the crank pin 31 be allowed to come intocoincidence with the central axis of the crank disk 2 1 and to remain inthis position, the wings will remain at rest notwithstanding that theengine and driving mechanisms continue to work, so that at such timesthe flapping of the wings ceases and the wings are used for gliding. Theopposite transformation takes place as soon as the brake 27 is againoperated, after releasing the catch 31 in the manner hereinbeforementioned for the purpose of moving the crank pin away from the axis ofthe disk 24-.

If the levers 12 be shifted simultaneously to the rear, the wings willassume the position for descent in a straight line. If a curve is to bedescribed with the apparatus, the levers 12 are moved into difierentposi tions as required.

If the machine should suddenly make a dive, the pendulum bob or weight20 will move, relatively, forward so that the connecting rod. will bethrust backward and the sectors 17, with their respective levers 12iocked therein, will swing forward. Thus the levers 12 will be movedforward automatically for producing a lifting effect, just in the sameway as if the levers 12 had been moved forward by hand.

In Fig. 10 the construction of the mechanism differs slightly from thatshown in Figs. 2 to 9, but the operation is substantially similarthereto. The connecting rod and the link 33 are dispensed with; the pin31 of the disk 28 being made in one with the pivot 9 which is thereforecaused to move in a circle, while the pin 8 reciprocates in an are. Abelt and pulley drive 23 is employed instead of bevel wheel, a flexibleshaft 13, 11, 15 in lieu of the rods and Car-clan joints, and a bentlever 35, 36 is substituted in place of the two levers hereinbeforedescribed.

I claim l. Actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft or thelike, comprising a crank arm, a wing rigidly attached to said arm, andmeans for reciprocating one end of said arm in an unclosed path and formoving the other end in a closed curve; motion similar to that of a birdbeing thereby imparted to the wings.

2. actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft or the like,comprising a crank arm, a wing rigidly attached to said arm, and meansfor reciprocating one end of said arm in an arc and for moving the otherend in a closed curve; motion similar to that of a bird being therebyimparted to the wings.

3. In actuating mechanism for the wings I ble shaft, and adapted totraverse said links and vary their effective length. r

5. In actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft or the like,means for varying the effective length of the crank arms comprisingtoggle links (10) adapted to act as crank arms; connecting rods (ll, 15)attached to one another by means of Cardan or universal joints, and ascrew (16) actuated by the rotation of said connecting rods and adaptedto traverse said links and vary their effective length.

6. In actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft, a crank armcomprising toggle links (10), a pin joining the upper ends of saidlinks, a screw (16) adapted to traverse said links and to expand orcontract same, and a slotted guide member (37) fixed to one end of thetoggle links and adapted to receive and guide said pin,

7. In actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft or the like,means for regulating the extent of movement of the wings, comprisingcrank arms (10), an eccentrically mounted rotary disk (28), and aconnecting rod (32) rigidly attached at one end to said crank arms (10)and at its other end to said eccentricalhx mounted disk (28).

8. In actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft, means forvarying the effective direction or tilt of one or both of the wingseither conjointly or independently, comprising a wing arm consisting ofa crank arrangement (10), an ope itinglever (1 adapted to control onewing; and a connecting rod (11) for transmitting the movements of saidto said crank arrangement (10). a

9. In actuat .g mechanism for the-wings of aerial craft, the hereindescribed system of levers, comprising a connecting rod (11) pivotallyattached to one end of a crank arm (10), a vibratory link (33 a secondconnecting rod (32) fulcrunied to said link and pivotally attached tothe other end of the crank arm and to an eccentric crank pin (31).

10. In actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft, thecombination with dri n ing cranks, crank pins on said fdriving cranksand arms adapted to carry. the wings,

of a system of connectin rods and levers attached to said Wing arms andto said crank pins, and means for varying the relative position of thecrank pins of said driving cranks.

11. In actuating mechanism for the Wings of aerial craft, means forregulating the action of the driving cranks, comprising a crank-disk(24:), a second disk mounted eccentrically thereon (28), a pin (31)mounted eccentrically on said second disk, and means for causing saidpin to be brought into and out of alinement with the axis of the crankdisk.

12. In actuating mechanism for the Wings of aerial craft or the like, adriven crank disk (24".), a second crank disk (28) eccentrically mountedthereon, a crank pin (31) carried by said crank disk, and a brake dcvice(27) for fixing the position of the crank pin (31) in relation to theaxis of the crank disk (24).

13. In actuating mechanism for the Wings of aerial craft or the like, adriven crank disk (24), a second crank disk (28) eccentrically mountedthereon, a crank pin (31) carried by said crank disk, a gear wheel (30)rotating between the crank disks for revolving said disk (28) around itsown axis, and a brake device (27) for fixing the position of the crankpin (31) in relation to the axis of the crank disk (24).

14. In actuating mechanism for the Wings of aerial craft or the like, adriven crank disk (24) a second crank disk (28) eccentrically mountedthereon, a crank pin (31) disk carried by said crank disk, a gear wheel(26) ,a second gear Wheel (30) in mesh with gear Wheel (26) for rotatingsaid crank disk (28) around its own axis, and a brake device (27) forfixing the position of the crank pin (31 in relation to the axis of thecrank disk 15. In actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft, thecombination with means for varying the position of a pin (31)eecentrically mounted on a disk (28) which 1n turn is eccentricallymounted on a crank disk (24), of means for normally locking (28) invarious positions.

16. In actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft, means forlocking the disk (28) in certain positions comprising a springcontrolled axially movable shaft (34) adapted to engage in recesses orholes formed in the said disk.

17. In actuating mechanism for the wings of aerial craft, means forunlocking the disk (28) comprising a bell-crank lever (35) adapted toengage with a collar on the looking shaft (34), and a lever (36) adaptedto cause the said bell-crank to move the shaft (3 1) out of engagementWith the disk (28).

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

I-IERlVLANN HASSENBAOH.

Witnesses ROBERT Pnrs CHOW, ERNST SPUNUSKI.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

